Beckham, Toni to mark Serie A returns

ROME 
David Beckham and Luca Toni will mark their return to Serie A when the Italian league resumes with a full slate of games Wednesday.

Beckham rejoined AC Milan on loan from the Los Angeles Galaxy for the second straight season and the former England captain could start immediately against Genoa, with fellow midfielders Andrea Pirlo and Clarence Seedorf bothered my minor muscle problems.

Likewise, AS Roma coach Claudio Ranieri intends to make immediate use of Toni after getting the 6-foot-4 striker on loan from Bayern Munich. He scored 91 goals in 177 Serie A games before transferring to Germany 2 1/2 years ago.

Toni will try to regain his spot on Italy's World Cup team with a solid second half.

"I'm extremely motivated and very happy to be here," Toni said. "Roma is the right place to get myself back in form and aim for the World Cup."

Roma, which has climbed back into the Champions League after a poor start, visits Cagliari.

The winter break also included Goran Pandev's transfer to Serie A leader Inter Milan after a bitter contract dispute with Lazio. With Samuel Eto'o on leave for the African Cup of Nations, Pandev could pair with Diego Milito in Inter's attack.

Inter, which has an eight-point lead over AC Milan, opens 2010 against Chievo Verona.

Juventus, which ended the year on a two-game losing streak but is still third, will play a freshly promoted Parma squad that is tied for fourth with Roma.

Juventus is without five starters: goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon and forward Vincenzo Iaquinta are both recovering from knee surgery, defender Fabio Cannavaro is suspended, Mauro Camoranesi is out for a month with a thigh injury and fellow midfielder Mohamed Sissoko is playing for Mali at the African Cup of Nations.

Other matches Wednesday include Fiorentina against Siena; Lazio against Livorno; Palermo and its three-game winning streak against Sampdoria; Napoli against Atalanta; Udinese and new coach Gianni De Biasi against Bari; and Catania against Bologna.